Wrapping-machine.



6. C. PAGE.

I WRAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION I'll) [AV :3 ISL: 1,290,027.

Patented Jan. 7, I919.

6 SHEETS-SIIHI I.

llllmllll lllilllllillll EHI was. 2 ,426. V

C. (2. PAGE. wamms ma'cmns.

v I Mllfllil'lloll FI LED MAY 28. If!!! Patented Jan 7,

6 SHEETS-SHED 2- m, Jamel 22. lllllllllllllh I24 C. C. PAGE.

WRAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mm IAY 28. ms.

irfllllh Patented Jan. 7, I919.

i SHEETS-SN! 3 Wall/6211279; ZW/VV auwntoz I LuNolmn l C. 0. PAGE.

WRAPPING MACHINE. nrrucmou mm nv 28. m5.

1,290,027. Patented Jan. 7,1919.

6 SHEETS-SHE 4.

c. 0. PAGE.

WRAPPING MACHINE.

a suns-sure! i.

r: l A 4 C. C. PAGE. WRAPPING MACHINE.

nrrucmou-mzn luv 28. 1915.

Patentod Jan. 7,1919.

8 SHEETS-SHEEI G.

- To all whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I CLARENCE C. PAGE, OF GRANTS PASS, OREGON, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL WRAPPING MACHINE CORPORATION, OF NEWPORT, VERMONT.

wnnrrme-incnmnj Be it known that I, CLARENCE C. Peon, a

citizen of the United States residing at Grants Pass, in the county of Josephine and State of Oregon, have invented certaln new and useful Improvements in Wrapping-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to'be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to,

make and use the same.

My invention relates generally to the construction of machines which are designed to form an enveloping wrapper around articles of merchandise, but is especially and primarily directed to that type of Wrapping machines in which the paper or other wrapper or cover is maintained in enveloping relation with the articles of merchandise by being twisted by means of suitable wrapper twisting mechanism.

It is the object of my present invention to simplify the construction of machines of the character indicated and to render them more durable and. efiicient' in operation.

This object is accomplished by combining and coordinating various elements of the a. paratus in novel ways, asheremafter spec1 cally pointed out in the appended claims,

the principal features of novelty stated in general terms, being as follows;

The wrapper. severin mechanism involves the employment 0 a'plurality of coopera-ting knives which are revoluble about a common axis and which are also movable toward the axis of rotation of the wrapper twisting means to engage and sever the wrapping material; the wrappiilililg material is premed against one of the "ves in such manner as to be and suitably held. for severing by t e ives; the dehve of the wrapped articles of merchandise rom the machine is effected through communicating inclined chutes or surfaces down which the articles of merchandise gravitate wrapping material at independent points between which thewrapplng material extends in a spiral direction and assumes a tubular form, one of said tension devices being intermittent in its operation; the means for twisting the wrapping material involves Specification of Letters Patent.

gage the wrapping material at successively unequal intervals; andthe wrapper twisting ,unecham'sm and movable devicesv for feeding the articles of merchandise are respectively actuated in a simple and effective manner through the instrumentality of vertically extending shafts one of which serves to drive the other. Further novel combinations of parts and features of elemental construction are pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings illustrating the inven-' tion,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wrapping machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine, the cover or housing for a portion of the feed mechanism being broken away to disclose the movable parts.

Fig. 3 is a detail plan view of the upper bed plate of the frame of the machine and certain elements associated therewith.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line-4-4, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken in the same plane as Fig. 4, but illustrating another position of the wrapper twisting and article feeding mechanisms.

Fig. 6 is also a detail sectional view taken in the same plane as Fig. 4, but illustrating still another position of the wrapper twisting and article feeding mechanisms.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 7-7, Fig. 6, the guard ring which covers certain devices for actuating the wrapper twisting mechanism being broken away.

Fig. 8 is a detail horizontal section showing the wrapper twisting position of a cooperating pair of one form of twister bars.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but showing another pair of cooperating twister bars.

Fig. 10 is a detail elevation of the wrap Patented Jan. '7, 1919.- I Application filed May 28, 1915. Serial No. 80,941.

per twisting and wrapper severing mechamsms.

Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are detail views illustrating successive positions of the wrapper severing mechanism.

Fig. 14 is a detail elevation of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 13.

Fig. 15 is a detail plan view of a portion of the wrapper severing mechanism, one of the knives being broken away to disclose the plate which cooperates with the other knife to grip the wrapping material while it is being cut. I

16 is a detail elevation showing one of the devices for applying tension to the wrapping material.

Fig. 17 is an end view of the tension devices shown in Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a detail View, on the line 18-1 8 Fig. 4, showing certain of the devices for feeding the articles of merchandise.

Fig. 19 is a detail sectional view of a portion of the mechanism for feeding the articles of merchandise, the parts being1 in the position illustrated in Fig. 6 and t e view being taken in a plane at right angles to that figure.

' Fig. 20 is a detail section, taken 1n the plane of the line 2020, Fig. 4. V

Fig. 21 is a detail perspective view of one of the cams employed in the mechanism.

Fig. 22 is a detail plan view of the inter mittently operatin tension device.

Fig. 23 is a detall sectional view, taken in the plane of the line 23-23, Fig. 2.

Fig. 24 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the construction shown in Fig. 23.

Fig. 25 is a detail view in elevation of a portion of the mechanism for feeding the articles of merchandise. Fig. 26 is a sectional view, taken in th plane of the line 26-26,' Fig. 25.

Fig. 27 is a view of a modified form of cylinder forming a part of one of the tension devices.

Figs. 28 and 29 are detail views, taken at right angles to each other, showing a modified form of plunger and its operatingmechanism. Y

Th improvements in wrapping machines herein described and claimed are disclosed as applied to a machine of the type and general construction of that described in my Patent Number 1,116,618, granted NovemberlO, 1914, since the present improvements as applied to such a machine are especially advantageous. It is to .be understood, however, that the particular form of the mechanism illustrated is not to beregarded as indicatingvthe scope of my invention but is merely one concrete embodiment of th improvements claimed.

I will now proceed to describe my invention more fully, so that others skilled in the art to which it appertains may apply the same.

The frame of the machine is preferably constructed with a base 1 having a plural- V ity of standards 2 extending vertically upvenience of assembling-the apparatus, may

- tively serve'as a support for the twister ward therefrom. These standards, for conbe formed as a series oftubularsections 2%,

'2, 2 which serve to space apart and support the bed-plates 3,4 and 5 which respecmechanism housing 6, a support or anchorage for the stationary worm 44 by whichihev belts of'the twister mechanism are actua ted,

nuts extend throughithe tubular sections 2, 2" and 2 and through corresponding apertures in thebase 1 and supporting members 3, 4 and 5, thus rigidly uniting the several parts of the machine frame.

Mounted on the standards 2 adjacent to the base 1 is a bed-plate 8 to which is designed to be secured a suitable motor 9 for driving the movable parts of the mechanism. Th bed-plate 8 is preferably provided with integrally attached collars 10 which are adapted to slide on the standards 2 and to be secured thereto in any desired position of vertical adjustment by means of set screwsll. As the vertically extending shaft 12 is supported at its lower end in a bearing 13 formed on the bed-plate 8 and as the wrapper twisting devices are mounted. upon the upper end of said shaft, it will be seen that the Wrapper twisting devices may thus be moved vertically to initially I pulleys 16 mounted on the machine frame,

and around a pulley 17 which is preferably secured to the shaft 12 by a set screw so as to be adjustable vertically thereon. As shown in Fig. 1 the pulleys 16 are preferably journaled on anadjustable standard or bracket 18 which is slidably and rotatably mounted in collars 19 and 20 formed on the frame members 3 and 4, respectively. A set screw 21 which passes through the collar 19, serves to secure the bracket in any position of adjustment. By raising or lowering the standard 18 and. correspondingly adjusting the pulley 17 the belt 14 may be put under the desired tension, and by rotating the standard 18 the pulleys 16 may be brought into correct operative alinement with the pulley 17. With this form of driving mechanism liability of the machine to injury'as a result of clogging of'the'mechanism from any cause is eliminated, as, in'the event of any such clogging the belt 14 will'slip on the motor pulley 15, which is comparatively small. A switch 22, which is electrically connectedto the motor 9by a suitabl cord or -cable23 and which may be mounted on the upper bed Y late 5 of the frame within convenient reach of the operator, is preferably employed as a'means for starting and and a support or base. for the devices for twlsting mechanism which is mounte erably prevented by means of a collar 24 which is secured to said shaft by a set screw 25 and which bears at its upper end against a centrally located boss 26 formed on the under side 'of the intermediate bed plate or supporting casting 3 of the machine frame.

Surmountin the upper-end of the shaft 12 and secure thereto, as for example by the pin or key 27, is a head 28 carrying the wrapper twisting mechanism. The wra per on shaft 12, so as to be rotatable therewith, broadly stated involves movable endless devices in the nature of belts, preferably, though not necessarily, in the form of chainbelts as will hereinafter appear. This head has an inclined upper surface 29 down which the wrapped articles of merchandise gravitate and from which they pass to the stationary incline or delivery chute, 30 that is preferably formed integral with the housing member 6. As shown more particularly in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the upper end of the driving shaft 12 is inclined so as to conform to the inclined surface 29 and thus offer no obstruction to the passage of the wrapped articles of merchandise.

Extending upwardly from the head 28 and secured thereto by means of bolts 31 are oppositely disposed uprights 32 in which are journaled the parallel shafts.33, 34. and 36, the shafts being arranged in pairs.

I The lower pair of shafts 33 and 34, are arferred to rigidly secure to the outer end of,

ranged near the lower ends of the uprights 32, while the upper pair, 35 and 36, are near the upper ends of the uprights. Each of the shafts 33, 34, 35 and 36 has two sprocket wheels 37, 37 secured to it, the arrangement being preferably such that the said sprocket wheels stand in close proximity to the said uprights or standards 32.

Chain belts '38 pass around each vertically arranged pair of the sprocket Wheels, and

the chain belts that pass around sprocket wheels on the same shafts are connected by a; series of bars 39 and 40, which are adapted to engage the wrapping material to cause the formation therein of twists which retain such wrapping material in enveloping relation with the articles of merchandlse.

The upper pair of shafts, 35' and 36, are idlers which are driven by the sprocket wheels 37 thereon through the instrumentality of the chainbelts 38. The shaft 34 is driven from the shaft 33 and in unison therewith by means of the engaging equal pinions 41 and 42, the former being keyed to the shaft 33 and the latter being similarly secured to the shaft 34. As a means for causlng rotation of the shaft 33 it is pre said shaft a bevel gear 43 having teeth which areadapted to engage the internal teeth or threads of a stationary annular worm member 44 which may be conveniently ing and severing devices are mounted will.

make four complete revolutions for each slngle rotation of the shaft 33 and the shafts 34, 35 and 36 driven thereby. Each complete revolution of the shafts 33, 34, 35 and v 36 corresponds to the complete wrapping of one article of merchandise.

. The twister bars 39 and 40 are arranged alternately upon the chains 38, the-respective distances from each bar to its adjacent bars bein as shown, made unequal to thereby permlt the twisted ends of wrapping material projecting from the opposite sides of each wrapped article of merchandise to be regulated in length as may be desired without regard to the size of the articles that are being wrapped. In the present instance the distance between each bar 39 and the immediately succeeding bar 40 is equal to three links of the chains 38, while the distance between each bar40 and the immediately succeeding bar 39 is equal to five links, the total distance from one twister bar 39 or 40, as the case may be, to the immediately succeeding twister bar of the same kind being eight links, which is equivalent to one complete revolution of the shafts 33, 34, 35 and 36 since the sprocket wheels 37 have eight teeth each. As will be noted, it results from this spacing of the twister bars that when the wrapping'material is severed to free the wrapped articles from each other the free ends of the wrapping material will correspond in length to two and one-half links of the chain, while the.

parts 39 of thebars while the depressed portions 39 'permit the wrapping material on each s1de to be draualmyard the center without tearing as the twister bars continue make the twist in the wrapping material immediately in advance of the article of mer chandise which is being wrapped.

The bars 40 operate upon the wrapping material to form the twist therein immediately behind the article which is being wrapped. As shown in Fig. 9 the outer faces of these bars are preferably depressed or of concave form, as at 40. This prevents the wrapping material from being gripped so tightly as to be restrained from'slipping between thebars 40, yet at the same time causes the tube of wrapping material to be crushed inwardly and to be twisted behind the article of merchandise. As hereinbefore noted the twister bars 39 are so shaped as to grip and exert a pull on the wrapping material, while the twister bars 40 are so shaped as to permit the slipping of the wrapping material therethrough.

On reference to Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings it will be noted that in the twisting operation the pair of twisting bars 39 are what may be termed the leader twister bars and the pair oftwisting bars 40 may be termed the follower twister bars, and it will also be noted that between two pairs there is a short interval (see Fig. 6) which may be termed the wrapping pocket, while between the follower twister bars 40 and the succeeding leader twister bars 39 there is a long interval. (see Fig. 5), in which intermediate space the knives that sever the wrapper operate. As the wrapping material is pulled downwardly and is twisted by the twister bars 39 the wrapper is drawn tightly around the article being wrapped and is twisted immediately behind it, the concave faces 40" of the bars 40 permitting the requisite quantity of wrapping material to be drawn through them and to be pulled tightly around the articles of merchandise notwithstanding unequalities in the sizes of the latter.

In performing their wrapper twisting op- .crations the ends of the bars 39 and 40 pass downwardly through vertical grooves or guideways 46- formed centrally in theinwardly projecting portions of the uprights or standards 32, and to support thechains 38 intermediate of the twister bars 39 and 40 supporting. blocks or fillers 47 may, if desired, be secured to the inner faces of the uprights 32 so as to extend between each vertically arranged pair of sprocket wheels 37 within the space included bythe corresponding chain belt 38.

As shown, especially in Figs 8 and 9, the twister bars 39 and v 40 are preferably notched near their outer ends to receive the chains 38. 'Pins 48, which are driven into the several corresponding bars 39 and 40 and which are preferably provided with lips or lugs that overlap adjacent links of the chains 38, 'maybe conveniently adopted as a means for securing the said bars tothe chain belts.

In order to protect the operator from possible injury it is preferred to secure to one of the uprights 32, as by means of a screw 49, a bracket. 50' which extends outwardly over the meshing portions of the gears 41 and 42; and to the outer face of the opposite upright or standard 32 is preferably secured, as by means of screws 51, a block or weight 52 which serves to nicely balance the mechanism so as to permit it to revolve rapidly with the vertically extending driving -shaft 12 without any substantial vibration.

A ring or annulus 53 which rests upon' the stationary member '4 of the machine frame and which serves not onlyto further protect the operator against possible injury, but also to prevent foreign bodies from accidentally falling into the machine at this point, may also be employed if desired.

The lmife mechanism by which the wrapping material is severed to free the wrapped articles from each other preferably consists of a pair of cooperating knives which, operate in the space between the chains 38, one of said knives being mounted on the shaft 33 and the other being mounted on the adjacent shaft 34.

The knife 54 carried by the shaft 33 is.

preferably'rigidly secured to said shaft. To this end it is preferred to mount upon the shaft 33 between the corresponding chains 38 a sleeve 55 which is securedfto said shaft by means of a pin 56, the sleeve 55 being formed with a slot adapted to receive the knife 54. A cotter pin 57, which passes through the knife 54 and its sleeve or shaftm'ounting 55, may conveniently serve to retain the knife in assembled position. The cutting edge of the knife54 is preferably parallel to the shaft 33.

shearing cut when the knives 54 and 58 pass each other, as indicatedin Figs. 6, 11, 12 and 13. In yieldingly mounting the knife 58 on the shaft 34 it is preferred to rigidly secure to the latter a sleeve 59 having a seat in which the knife rests with capability of oscillation -to the desired extent, said.

sleeve 59, which may be secured to its shaft by means of a pin 60, being also preferably provided with a radially extending lug 59 which serves as a stop to limit the movement of the knife59 in one direction. "Passing through the lug 59 and through a suitable holein the knife 5 abolt 61 that. is

'110 The knife 58 which cooperates with the stationary knife 54 is yieldinglymounted encircled by two springs 62 and 63, respectively, one of said. springs being interposed between the knife 58 and the nut 61 on the bolt and the other being similarly arranged between the head 61 of the bolt and a plate 64 which as will hereinafter appear, co'tiperates with the under side of of theknife 54. thus insuring that the stationary knife 54 shall pass under the yielding knife 58 in performing the shearing operation. The knives, as shown more especially in Fig. 6, are preferably so located on their respective shafts 33 and 34 that they sever the wrapping material midway between successive wrapped articles.

The plate 64 may be mounted in the same manner and is substantially of the same form as the knife 58, saving only that no projecting lug corresponding to the lug 58 is ordinarily formed upon it. Its leading.

corner 64 is, however, preferably slightly curved vertically in a direction opposite to .the' curvature of the lug 58, to thereby insure the entry of the stationary knife 54 between the plate and-the yielding knife 58.

Adjacent to the edge of the-plate and on the side toward the knife 58 said plate 64 is preferably provided with a roughened -or knurled surface 64" between which and the adjacent side ofthe stationary knife 54 the wrapping material is pressed and thus yieldingly gripped during the cutting operation of the two knives, the roughening or knurling of the surface serving to more effi-. ciently prevent the wrapping material from slipping. As will be readily understood. the severing of the wrapping material is rendered more certain by providing means for holding it'at a point belowv the cutting edges of the. knives during their cutting operation, since should the wrapping material be free at its lower end the knives, in-

stead of shearing the-material, might.sim

ply push or drive it along their cutting edges without severing it.

Theplunger 75 which reciprocates in the tube around which the wrapping material is formed and the devices by which the articles of-merchandise are delivered into the tube are preferably actuated by a shaft 65 which extends parallel with the principal driving shaft .1 2. The, shaft 65 is drivtu from the shaft 12 so as to make one revolution for each four revolutions of said shaft 12, such movement corresponding, in the special case illustrated in the drawings, to a movement of the chains-38 equal to eight links thereof or to the complete wrapping of a single article of merchandise. The shaft 65 may be conveniently driven from 12, a pinion 67 being secured to the shaft 65 and intermediate pinions 68 and 69, which respectively mesh with the pinions 66 and 67, being carriedon a shaft 70 that is mounted in the stationary casting 3 of the machine frame. These several gears are inclosed by the housing 6 and lie below the inclined chute 30 thereof.

The lower end of the shaft 65, which. may be lubricated through an oil duct 71, is preferably stepped in a bearing member 1 72 which has threaded engagement with the A the shaft 12 by a train .of gearing (see Fig. 4), a pinion 66 being secured to the shaft intermediate bed member 3 of the machine frame, the shaft 65 being thus rendered capable of vertical movement to effect an accurate positioning of the cam 73 which is mounted on the upper end of said shaft above the upper bed plate 5. A pin 74 may be employed for rigidly securing the cam 73 to the shaft 65.

As viewed from above the direction of rotation of the cam 73 is counter-clockwise. The ortion of the ca extending from a to 5 see Figs. 4 and 2 corresponds to the highest upward movement of'the plunger 75 within the tube 76 and to the article feeding movement of the pivoted spoon or ejector member 77 toward said tube; the portion of the cam between the points 5 and c corresponds to a movement of the ejector member 77 away from the tube 76 and to a downward movement of the plunger 75, whereby the latter is enabled to follow downwardly within the tube of wrapping material behind the article of merchandise immediately theretofore fed into the tube 76, thus insuring that the article of merchandise shall reach its proper position within the tube of Wrapping material. The position of the plunger 75correspondirg to the point e is illustrated in full linesin Fig. 5; I

The succeeding portion of the cam between 0 and (2 corresponds to a short upward excursion of the plunger 75 to the po 'sitio'n indicated in. dotted lines in Fig. 5, such retraction of the plungenbeing for the purpose of permitting the pairs of coiiperating twister bars40 to clear the lower end of the plunger and move inwardlywithout interference behind the article of merchandise, to thereby en'gageand crush the tube of wrapping material and induce a twisting of the latter to the rear of the article that is being wrapped. The final portion of the cam, namely, between the points d and a,

corresponds to the downward movement of the plunger 75 to the position shown in Fig. 6, which is the lowest position of the plun-. ger. By this downward movement of the plunger in close proximity to the twister bars 40 and within the tube of wrappin material the twist in the wrapping materia is substantially confined to the space between the twister bars and the lower end of the plunger 75 and is thus rendered somewhat tighter than it otherwise would be. v

the ejector 77 by .which the articles of mer- During the succeeding upward movement of the plunger 75, and before the pivoted ejector member 77 delivers another article of mechandise into the tube 76, the next pair of twister bars 39 engage and crush the tube of wrapping. material between them, so that when the article of merchandise is delivered into the tube 7 6, which. preferably occurs at substantially the same time, said article will drop through the tube 76 and pass into the tube of wrapping material, passing downwardly therein until arrested y the twist in the wrapping material effected 'by the co-acting bars 39. These operations are repeated for each article of merchandise that is wrapped by the machine.

The movements of the plunger 75 are preferably efiected through a pivoted lever 78 which is flexibly connected to said plunger by means of a link 79 that is pivotally connected to said lever and plunger. The lever 78 is pivotallymounted on the upwardly extending stationary plate 80 of the niachine frame by means of a pivot pin or stud 81 that is carried by the latter and is prefer-. ably formed with a comparatively long sleeve or bearing 78 which encircles the pivot pin 81 and by afi'ordingan extended bearing prevents undesirable lateral move ments of the lever as it oscillates up and down in actuating the plunger 7 5. The lever 8 is also provided with a laterally proectmghstud bearing'a roller 82 which trav 'erses t e operative facefof the-cam 7 3, said roller being maintained in constant engagementvwith the cam by means of a spring 83' which is connected at one end to the I short arm of said lever and at the other end is anchored to the plate 80 by means of a suitable studor pin.- As shown more perticularly in Figs. 4, 5', 18 and 20, the tube 76 and the upper, hollow portion of the plunger 7 5 are preferably slotted vertically to permit the entrance of the cam lever 78; the lmk 79 being. pivoted tothe end of saidlever and to the-upper end of said plunger within the tubular portion of the same. The

upper end of themes 76 may be closed by a. threaded plug 84= .to prevent an foreign body from accidentally getting into this portion of the machine;

Another'convenientgmode of operating the plunger isallustrated in 28 and 29.

ano es:

In this form of construction a roller 79 whlch is mounted upon the end of the cam lever 78 is employed in lieu of the link 79,.

and the plunger 75 is formed as a, solid member which is provided with a transversely extending 101275 forming faces to engage the 0, posits sides of the roller, the

plunger, as s own, being shaped to receive v and permit the oscillations of the end of the lever 78.

For the sake of simplicity of construction chandise to the wrapping mechanism, at the proper predetermined intervals. The ejec tor 77, which is pivotally mounted upon the stationary plate 80 by means of a stud or pin 86, is provided with two arms 77 and 77", respectively, between and upon which the roller 85 operates in causing the ejector 77 to oscillate back and forth upon its pivot in conformity to the extended oscillations of the cam lever 78. When the lever 78 moves upwardly in passing to the position lllustrated in Fig. 4 the roller 85 thereon passes between the arms 77 and 77 and, by engaging the former causes the ejector 77 to turn on its pivot and move toward the tube 76 into which the article of merchandise is delivered. Upon the downward movement of the lever 78 the roller 85 engages the arm 77 and forces the lower end of the ejector 77 rearwardly, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6, to a position where it is again ready to repeatits operation of pushing an article of merchandise into the tube 7 6. In the in tervals when theroller 85 is moving from one to the other of the arms 77 and 77* the ejector 77 remains at rest, the feeding of successive articles of merchandise into the.

That portionof theejector which comes in contact with the articles of merchandise is preferably curved concavely, as indicated at 77,somewhat in the fashion of a spoon,

such a construction serving to assist in centralizing the articles of merchandise in the" chuteor trough 8 7 inwhich they rest and throu h which they. are delivered to the tube 76. s shown more particularly in Fig. 26, the ejector 77 is preferably frictionally held on its'pivot pin- 86, in any position which the roller 85 may cause it to assume, by A means of a spring 88 whichbears u on the plate 80, and also upon the ejector 7 said spring encircling the cylindrical sleeve of the ejector through which the pivot stud 86 passes. To the more certainly insure that the injector 77 shall not, in the rapid operation of the machine, be thrown or swung rearwardly to such an extent as to prevent the roller 85 in .its upward movement from properly engaging the under side of the arm 77*, a laterally projecting stop 88 (see Fig. -l) ispreferably secured to'the stationary plate 80 in such position as to prevent undue the arms 77 and 77 of the ejector 77 have no 1 5 rearward movement of the ejector.

In the normal operation of the mechanism movement with respect to each other and the ejector operates as if it were an integral.

.member. In order, however, to provide for a relative yielding movement of the arms 77 and 77"v such as would permit the arm 7 7 to remain stationary while the roller 85 executes its normal movement, which contingency might be necessary to prevent breaking of or injury to this part of the mechanism should any unduly large bodyaccidentally' drop or be attempted to be fed into the machine, itis preferred, as shown in Figs. 25 and 26, to form the arms 77 and 77 as separate members which are hinged together around the pivot stud 86, the movement of said arms with respect to each other being limited by the cooperation of a pin or stop 77 on the arm 77? and a stop or shoulder 7 7 on the arm 77 A comparatively. strong spring 89, which is attached at opposite ends to the respective arms 7 7 a and 7 7 serves to normally maintain the stops 77", and 77 in contact with each other, thus causing the ejector 77 to norgially operate as if it were an integral mem- The articles of merchandise which are to be wrapped are preferably deposited on a table 90 from which they are fed one at a time to the wrapping mechanism. This feed table is preferably provided with marginal flanges 90 and 90 which serve to prevent the articles of merchandise'from' being accidentally displaced from the table, said flanges being interrupted or having an opening between them" adjacent to the trough 87 so that the articles to be wrapped may be delivered from said table into said trough. The straight rear edge of the feed table 90 is, as shown, preferably unprovided with any marginal flange. The omission of the flange at this point permits the feed table of the machine to be conveniently placed in contact with the edge of any ordinary table upon which large quantities of the unwrapped articles of merchandise may be deposited, the articles being supplied from time to time to the feed table 90 as occasion may demand.

Adjacent to the opening between the flanges 90* and 90".the feed table 90 is preferably formed with a circular or cup-like depression 90 within which a pocketed feed the feed table 90 and the under ying bed plate o. The feed wheel 91 rotates in a step by step manner, each step of the rotation corresponding to the delivery of an article of merchand1se into the feed chute 87 and in front of the ejector 77. As the chute 87 is somewhat lower than the bottom of the depression 90 in the feed table 90, and as the sloping wall of said depression is cut away at 90 (see Fi 2) so as not to offer any obstruction to t e passage of the articles-of merchandise through the opening between the flanges 90 and 90" of the feed table, the articles of merchandise gravitate one by one from the several pockets in" the feed Wheel 91 into the trough or chute 87 as the respective pockets come ,into juxtaposition with the opening between the marginal flanges of the feed table. As shown more particularly in Figs. 5 and 6 the bottom of the chute 87 preferably slopes or is curved upwardly toward the tube 76, thus overcomin any tendency of the article of merchandise to accidentally roll or slide toward said tube.

As a convenient means of rotating the portion 95 that isadaptedto successively engage the several pins 93 which project downwardly from the under side of the feed wheel 91, to thereby intermittently rotate the latter. A spring 96, which is attached at one end to the feed table 90 and at the other end to a short arm or projection 95" formed on the pawl 95 adjacent to the eccentric 94, serves to insure the driving engagement of the hooked end 95" of the pawl with the pins 93 and likewise permits said pawl to yield-laterally so that its hooked end may ride over or past the .pins and successively come intodriving engagement with each of them.

In order to prevent the feed wheel 91 from turning backwardly a pin or stop 97 may be mounted on the table- 90 so as to "project upwardly in the line of travel of the pms 93 a short distance above the bottom of the depression 90 in which thefeed wheel turns.

As shown in Figs. 23 and 24 the faces of the 7 pins 93 and that of the stop 97 are so beveled that the pins 98 may ride over the correspending inclined face of the stop 97 when the feed wheel, which is freely movable vertically on its shaft 92-, is turned in one direction, but cannot pass the stop to permit thefeed wheelto rotate in the opposite direction.

The feed table 90 may be conveniently secured to the upper bed plate of themachine by means of the shouldered shaft 92 which has threaded engagement with said bed plate, a pin 98 which extends into a hole 99 in said bed plate serving to properly position the feed table.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 a housing 100 may be employed to protect the operator from contact with the .cam 73, lever 78, ejector 77 and their adjacent associated parts.- This housing, when employed, is preferably hinged to and beside the stationary plate 80 by means of a bolt 101 which passes through the plate 80 and has threaded engagement with the housing member. A spring-102 which encircles the bolt and is interposed between the head thereof and the plate 80 serves to hold the housing 100 in' position and prevents rattling, while pins 103 and 104 projecting laterally from the stationary plate 80 serve as stops to respectively determinethe' raised and lowered position of said housing.

The reel 105 upon which the roll of paper or other wrapping material is mounted, is preferably journaled on a bracket 106 which is bolted to the upper bed plate 5 of the machine frame. The bracket 106 is also availed of as a means of supporting a tension device for continuously applymg tension to the web of wrappin material before it passes spirally downwar around the tube 76. This tension device preferably consists of a pair of adjacent cylinders or spools between which the wrapping material passes, the lower cylinder, 107, being rigidly mounted on the bracket 106, and the upper cylinder, 108, being hollow and threaded on a rod or finger 109 which projects from said bracket above and parallel to the lower cylinder or spool 107. To prevent rotation of the upper cylinder 108 when the wra ping material is drawn between it and the? cylinder the latter is preferably slotted at its outer end,-.as at 110,"to receive a downwardly projecting rod or bar 111 that is mounted on and extends transversely of the upper cylinder at its outer end. When the app cylinder 108 is slipped upon the'rod 109 the bar 111 enters the slot 110 in the outer end of the lower cylinder (see Fig. 17) and said upper cylinder is thus prevented from turnmg. e {in er It is preferred to make the u per cyl or spool 108 of this tension d indurated fiber or similar material, but it may be of metal if desired. When made of metal it is preferred to fashion such spbol ower evice of aae aoar WithprOjecting annular ribs 108*, as shown in Fig. '27 5 otherwise the upper tensioning .spool, if made of metal, is preferably precisely the same as heretofore described.

The upper cylinder 108 is caused to bear downwardly on the web ofwrapping material passing between it and the lower cylinder 107 to impart the desired tension by applying pressure to the upper cylinder. This may be advantageously accomplished by securing to the bracket 106 an inverted U- pable of effective and positive maintenance at a uniform degree and being capable of facile adjustment. With the .exception of the annular weight 113 which directly bears upon the cylinder 108, the weights 114 of the tensioning device are preferably thin, as the degree of tension applied to the web of wrapping material may be thereby adjusted with greater nicety. The height of the annular weight 113, however, ispreferably made such that the ide rod 11-2 will project into said weight w en the latter is resting on the cylinder supporting finger 109, the retention of the adjustable weights assembled position on their guide 112 being thus at all times assured.

The cylinders 107 and 108 are arranged close to and parallel with the plate 80, WhICll latter is preferably tangent to the tube 7 6 and brazed or otherwise integrally attached to said tube so as to support the same. The web of wrapping material after leaving the spools of the tensioning device asses down-- wardly beside the plate 80, whlch thus supports it laterallyfand prevents it from becoming accidentally torn or wrinkled at this point. The wrapping material, which is indicated by the reference numeral 115, is caused to assume a tubular form by passing spirally downward around the tube-Q6 t rough which the articles of merchandise are fed to the wrapping mechanism, the

spiral dire tion or form of the :webof wrapping material resultingin leaving uncovered the lateral aperturethrough which the articles of merchandise gain entrance tothe tube 76. .Just below the upper bed plate 5 and bolted to the under $1 e thereof it is ferred to provide a curved guide (see igs.

4, 18 and 19) 116 over the edge of which adjacent to the tube76 the wrapping material passes; andat its lower end the tube 76 is preferably slotted to provide a tongue 7 6 which, by projecting outwardly between 4 A further tension device, which is adapted ing web of wrapping material, permits the tube of wrapping material to be most effecterial at a upon the web ofwra tively and completely closed as it leaves the end of the feed table 76. The guide 116 and the tongue 7 6 both assist in causing the wrapping material to closely conform to the tube 76 as it passes spirally downward around the latter in the direction of rotation of the wrapper twisting mechanism.

to apply tension to the web of wrapping maoint adjacent to the lower end of the tube 6, is also preferably employed. This device is designed to intermittently act ping material, applying tension thereto uring the eriodsubstantially corresponding to the interval between the engagement of a pair of coacting twister bars 40 with the tube of wrapping material and the engagement of the succeeding pair of coacting twister bars 39 therewith. By thus applying tension to the wrapping material after a pair of twister bars 40 close in behind an article of merchandise, the wrapping material is draw more tightly and snugly around the article and the twist in the material is also caused to be more tightly made, while by releasing this tension as a coacting pair of twister bars 39' come into engagement. with the tube of wrapping material the wrapping material is permitted to be freely and quickly drawn off the tube 76 in such quantity as may be required to form the enveloping pocket for the article of merchandise.

The device-forthus intermittently applying tension to the wrapping material above the wrapper twisting mechanism preferably consists of a horizontally extending reciprocating member 117 which lies just beneath the upper bed plate 5 of the machine and which is yieldingly connected to said bed plate by means of a tension spring 118, the member 117 being conveniently. provided with a series of downwardly pro ecting pins 119 to either of which the end of .the spring 118 may be attached to thereby regulate the tension imparted to the wrapping material. The end of the member 117 w 10h 18 adjacent to the tube 76 is curved to correspond generall to the curvature of the tube and is provi ed with an inserted friction shoe or facing 120 which is preferably of leatheriand which may be secured to said member 117 by means of pins or screws. In order to support the tension device 117 at apoint adjacent to the tube 76 while at the same time 'said member 117 for receiving a bolt 122 per bed plate 5 of permitting it to move-toward and fromthe tube, a slot 121 may be formed inthe end of which'has threaded engagement with the upe machine frame, a washer 123 being interposed between the head of the bolt and the tension device-.' As shown in Figs. 4 and 22 the movements of the tension device 117 are controlled by a cam 124 which may be secured to the rotatable shaft by a set screw. The cam 124: rotates in a circular opening or eye formed in the tension member 117 at its outer end, the

shape of the cam being such that the spring 118 is permitted to draw the friction shoe 120 toward the tube 76 periodically, as heretofore explained, to thereby press the wrappm material app y tension to said wrapping material.

' What I claim is:

1. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying the wrapping material and means for feeding the articles of merchandise to be wrapped, of means for twisting the wrapping material to retain .it in enveloping relation with merchandise, said twisting means being .mounted on a vertical adjustable revoluble shaft, and means for vertically adjusting said revoluble shaft.

2. In a wrapping machine, the combinationwith means for supplying the wrapping material, of means for feeding the articles of merchandise which are to be wrapped, revoluble means for twisting the wrapping material to retain it in enveloping relation with the article of merchandise, and means wrapped, means for twisting the wrapping material to retain it in enveloping relation with the articles of merchandise, and a plurality of knivesfor severing said wrapping material, said knives being revoluble about a common axis and being also simultaneously and continuously revoluble about independent axes.

4. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying the wrapping material, of means for feeding the articles of merchandise which are to be wrapped, means for twisting the wrapping material to retain it in enveloping relation with the articles of merchandise, and means for severing the wrapping material, said wra per twisting means involving movable -en less devices and driving shafts therefor, and said means for severing the wrapping material involving a plurality of cooperating knives which are mounted upon said, shafts and are adapted to pass between said belts.

against the tube 76 and thus,

the articles of merchandise which are to be for severing the Wrapping material, said.

being revoluble 5. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying the wrapping material, of means for feeding the articles of merchandise which are to be wrapped, means involving movable endless devices for twisting the wrapping material to retain it a ping, material against one of said knives to the severing operation.

7. In a wrapping achine, the combination with means for supplying the wrapping thereby grip the wralpjping material during material, of means for feeding the articles to one of said knives, and the .knife against of merchandise which are to be wrapped, means for twisting .the wrapping material to retain it in enveloping relation with the 'articles of merchandise, means for severing the wrapping material, and means for gripping the wrapping material adjacent to its point of severance and between the wrapped article and such point of severance.

8. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying the wrapping material, of means for feeding the articles of merchandise which are to 'be wrapped, means for twisting the wrapping material to retain it in enveloping relation with the articles of merchandise, a plurality of relatively movable knives for severing the wrapping material, and a paper engaging device arranged adjacent to one of said knives and adapted to press the wrapping material against another of said knives, said last named knife and said paper engaging devifie being adapted to yieldingly engage each 0t er.

9. In a wrapping machine, the combination withnieans for supplying the wrapping materiahof means for feeding the articles of merchandise which are to be wrapped, means for twisting the wrapping material toretain it in enveloping relation with the articles of merchandise, aplurality of l'mives revoluble on independent axes ,for severing the wrapping material, and a device adapted to press the wrapping material against oneof said knives, said device being revoluble on the same axis with and yieldable with respect which it presses the wrapping material being adapted to cause a separation of the said device and the adjacent knife with which it revolves.

10. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying the wrapping material, of means for feeding the articles of merchandise which are to be wrapped, means for twisting the wrapping material to retain it in enveloping relation with the articles of merchandise, a plurality of relatively movable knives for severing the wrapping material, and a plate having a roughened portion which is adapted to press the wrapping material against one of said knives.

11. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying the wrapping material, of means for feeding the articles of merchandise which are to be wrapped, means for twisting the wrap ing material to retain it in enveloping re ation with the articles of merchandise, and a revolving head upon which said means for twisting the wrapping material is supported, said revolving head having an inchned portion for con veying the wrapped articles from the said means for twisting the wrapping material.

12. In a wrapping machine, the comb-ina-' tion with means for supplying the wrapping material, of means for feeding the articles of merchandise which are to be wrapped, revoluble means for twisting the wrapping material to retain it in enveloping relation with the articles of merchandise, a member revoluble with said means for twisting the wrapping material and having an inclined portionfor conveying the wrapped articles,-;

and a stationary member having an inclined surface upon which the wrapped articles are delivered from said revoluble inclined member. c WA 13. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying the wrapping material, of means for feeding the articles of merchandise which are to be wrapped, means for forming the wrapping material to retain it in enveloping relation with the articles of merchandise, a movable member having an'inclined surface over which the wrapped articles pass, and a stationary memher having an inclined surface over which the wrapped articles pass after leaving said movable inclined surface.

14. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying the wrapping material, of means for feeding the articles of merchandise which are to be wrapped,

means for forming the wrapping material to retain it in enveloping relation with the articles of merchandise, and relatively movable inclined surfaces over which. the.

. material, of means for feeding the articles of merchandise which are to be wrapped, a vertically extending revoluble shaft, a pulley'secured to said shaft for driving the same, and means rigidly mounted upon the upper end of said shaft for twisting the wrapping material to retain it in enveloping relation with the articles ofmerchandise.

16.v In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying the wrapping material, of means for feeding the articles of merchandise which are to be Wrapped, means fontwisting the wrapping material to retain it in enveloping relation with the articles of merchandise, a shaft for actuating the'means for twisting the wrapping material, the twisting mechanism being mounted on said shaft, and a shaft for actuating the means for'feedingthe articles of merchandise, said shafts being parallel.

17 In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying the wrapping material, of means for feeding the articles of merchandise which are to be wrapped, means fortwisting the wrapping material to retain it in enveloping relation with the articles ofmerchandiseyand a plurality of parallel shafts revoluble at different speeds, one of said shafts serving to support and actuate the means for twisting the wrapping material, and one of said shafts serving to actuate the means for feeding the articles of merchandise.

18. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying wrapping material, of means for feeding the articles of merchandisewhich are to be wrapped, means for twisting the wrapping materlal to retain it in enveloping relation with the articles of merchandise, a vertically extending revoluble shaft upon which said means for twisting the wrapping material is mounted, and a vertically extending revoluble shaft driven by said shaft first named and operating to actuate said means for feeding the articles of merchandise.

19. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a tubular member into which and from which the articles of merchandise which are to be wrapped are adapted to pass and around which the wrapping material passes sp rally, ofa device for applying tension to said wrapping material in advance of its spiral passage around said tubular member,

and a device for applying tension to said wrapfiing material at a point where it passes splra y around said tubular member.

20. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a tubular member into which and fromwhich the articles of merchandise which are to be wrapped are adapted to pass and around which the wrapping material passes spirally, of a device for applying tension to the wrapping material in advance assumes the said tubular form,

tion with means of its spiral tion with means for causing the wrapping f material to extend spirally to form a tube, of

a plurality of devices for applying tension to the wrapping material at independent points between which the wrapping material and means for causing the wrapping material to envelop the articles of merchandise which are to be wrapped.

22. In a wrapping machine, the combinafor causing the wrapping material to extend spirally in tubular form, of a plurality of devices for applying tension to the wrappin material at independent points between whic the wrapping material material to envelop the articles of merchandise which are to be wrapped, one of said devices for applying tension to said wrapping material'operating intermittently. I

23. In a wrapping machine, the combination with .means for supplying the wrapping material and means for feeding the articles of merchandise to be wrapped, of means for twisting the wrapping material to retain it i assumes said, spiral'form, and means for causing the wrapping inenveloping relation with the article of merchandise, said means including a plurality of twisting devices arranged at in tervals on a traveling member, and means for causing the feeding means to deliver the articles of merchandise to the alternate intervals between the twisting devices.

24. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying the wrapping material and means for feeding the articles of merchandise to be wrapped, of means for twisting the wrapping material to retain it in enveloping relation with the articles of merchandise, said means includingtraveling devices provided at intervals wit twisting bars, and means for causing the feeding means to deliver the articles of merchandise to the alternate intervals between the twisting bars. 2 v

25. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplyin the wrap ingl material, of a tubular mem er into w ic and from which the articles of merchandise which are to be wrapped are adapted to pass, a plunger reciplrocating within said tubular member and aving a tapered portion which is adapted to project from said tubular member and'to engage said wra ping material, andmeans for twlsting e wrapping material to retain it in enveloping relation with the articles of merchandise.

26. In 'a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying the wrapping material, of a tubular member into which and from whichthe articles of merchandise which are to be wrapped are adapted to pass, and means for twisting the wrapping material to retain it in enveloping relation with the articles f merchandise, said tubular member being formed with a slot into i which thewrapping material extends.

27. In a wrapping machine, .the combination with means for supplying the wrapping material, of means for feeding the articles of merchandise which are to be wrapped, and means for forming the wrapping material to retain it in enveloping relation with the articles of merchandise, said means for feeding the articles of merchandise involving an intermittently rotating feed wheel which is mountedon a vertical axis and which is provided with pockets for receiving the articles of merchandise, a trough to which the articles of merchandise pass from said feed wheel, and intermittently movable' means for forcing the articles of dise from said trough.

28. In a wrapping machine, the combination with meansfor supplying the wrapping material, of means for feeding the articles merchanof merchandise which are to be wrapped,

and means for forming the wrapping material to retain it in enveloping relation with the articles of merchandise, the means for feeding the articles of merchandise involving a feed table having a depression for the feed wheel and a chute leadin therefrom, a feed wheel rotatable in said epression of the feed table, an ejector for delivering the article from the chute tothe wrapping material, and a plunger for insuring the proper position of the article in the wrapper.

29. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying the wrapping material, of means for feeding the articles of merchandise which are to be wrapped, and means for forming the wrapping material toretain it in envelopingrelation with the articles of merchandise, said means for feeding the articles'of merchandise involv ing a chute and a feed table communicating therewith, said feed table being formed with 'a depression for the reception of the feed wheel and being provided with a' flange which interrupted adjacent to said chute to permit the articles of merchandise to pass by gravity from said table tosaid chute,

and a pocketed feed wheel-rotatably mount-g 'ed'in said depression. 1

30. In a wrapping machine, the combination with meansfor supplying the wrap" ping material, of means for 'f the an.

ticles of merchandise which are to be Wrapping mg relation with the articles-of merchan-- wrapped, and means f for twisting the material to retain it in envelopdise, said means for feeding the articles of 5 merchandise involving a' pocketed feed wheel which is intermittently rotatable, a

trough in juxtaposition to said feed wheel and which s adapted to support the articles of -merchandise deliveredv from said feed wheel, and intermittently movable pivoted means for forcing the articles of merchandise from said trough.

. 31. In a wrapping machine, the combination with a frame, of means mounted thereon for sup lying the wrapping material, means for f eeding the articles of merchan- 'dise which are to be wrapped, a vertically to retain it in enveloping re ation with the I articles of merchandise, said means including traveling devices provided with twisting bars arranged atalternately short and long 95 intervals, and means for causing the feeding means to deliver the articles of merchandise tothe alternate short intervals between the twisting bars.

, 33. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying the wrapping material and means for feeding the-articles of merchandise to be wrapped, of means for twisting the wrapping material to retain it in enveloping relation with the articles of merchandise, said means including a traveling device'provided with twisting bars arranged at intervals, and means for severing the wrapfmg material said severmg means arrange 34. In a wrapping machine, the combina:

tion with means for sup lying the wraps,-

ping material and means or feeding the ar'-' ticles of merchandise to .be wrapped, of 115 means for twisting the wrapping material to retain'it in envelo ing relation with the articles; of merchan ise, said means including a traveling member provided with twisting devices-arranged at intervals, and means 120 V for severing the wrapping material, the r feeding means and the severing means being arranged the oneto deliver to the writ ping material, and the-other to sever t e wrapper, at. alternate intervals between the .126

twisting devices. 35. In a wrapping machine, the combination with means for supplying the wrapping to sever the wrap- .plng material at alternate intervals.

I in enveloping relation with the article of merchandise, said twisting means including a vertically adjustable revoluble shaft on which th twisting devices are mounted, an

. adjustable bed plate on which the revoluble shaft of the twisting devices is stepped, a

driving pulley adjustable on the shaft, and 10 means to control the upward movement of the revoluble shaft of the twisting devices.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in the presence of two subscribin witnesses.

CLARENCE PAGE.

Witnesses:

W. L. J. DAVIES, ADH. DE GALYER. 

